Beam-covering.



Patented Mar. 22, 1900. .C T; PURDY. BEAM COVERING.- (Application mdSept. 10, 189B.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

. INVENTOQ? omeys.

'm: uonms mans co.. PHOTauYn WITNESSES {4a M Patented Mar. 27, I900.

'C. T. PUBDY.

BEAM COVERING.

(no Model): (Apphcatxon filed Sept. 10, 1898.) sheota sheet 2' o0 o o Qo on urmmmxw VA: Ill/l By MW 94 iiomeys.

WITNESSES No. s.4s,|92'. Patented Mar. 27, I900. c. T. PURDY'.

BEAM COVERING. (No Model.) (Application filed Sept. 10, 1898.) 4 shletssheat' 3.

' rig I 3 V///// Z 1, W s s F WITNESSES 152 Mm No.646,|92. Patented'Mar. 27, I900..

c'. T. PURDY.

BEAM COVERING. (No Model.) (Application filed Sept. 10I 1898.) I 4sheets-sheet 4.

A \r\\\ VJ 3 M a 0 5 0 5 WITNESSES [Wm/W052 {4i pan/1'6 MW NiTnD STATESATENT met.

CORYDON T. PURDY, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

BEAM-COVERING.

SPECIFICATION forming art of Letters Patent No. 646,192, dated March 27,1900. Application filed September 10, 1898. Serial No. 690,636. (N0model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CORYDON T. PURDY, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, county of New York, State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Beam-Coverings and Ideclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itpertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to fireproof construction in buildings; and itconsists in peculiar combinations hereinafter claimed. In structures ofthis character the ordinary construction of floors and partitions quitegenerally leaves some of the beams wholly or partially uncovered, andthe means commonly employed to inclose such exposed beams or parts ofbeams is unsatisfactory. In many cases the erection is done in such away that exceptional care must be exercised to secure good work. Much ofit is exceedingly imperfect at best, much of it also is unscientific,and, worst of all, it has finally proved to be insufficient inprotectionfrom fire when other portions of the fireprooflng material in the samestructure have proved satisfactory.

The particular object of my invention is to overcome all of theseobjections and to provide a method of covering these so-called exposedbeams and parts of beams which can be relied on to perfectly protectthem from fire under the most extraordinary circumstances. As theexposed beams and parts of beams occur in many ways, it followsnecessarily that there are very many forms in which the principles of myinvention can be employed, and in the drawings I have illustrated anumber of them.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in section of a beam supportingblocks of terracotta fireproofing on the lower flange, the lower face ofthe flange raised above the level of the ceiling and protected in themanner hereinafter described. Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing avariation of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a beam supportingblocks of terra-cotta flreproofing on the lower flange, the lower faceof the flange projecting below the ceiling and protected in the mannerheredescribed and.

inafter described. Fig. 4 is a sectional View showing a variation ofFig. Fig. 5 is a View, partly in section and partly in perspective, of agirder-beam projecting below the blocks of terra-cotta fireproofing andprotected as hereinafter described. Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9,

and 10 are sectional views showing variations of Fig. 5. Figs. 11, 12,13, 14, and 22 are detail figures in perspective, showing more clearlythe particular formsof material employed in my invention. Figs. 16, 17,18, and 19 are sectional views showing variations of Fig. 15. I

. In Fig. 1 I have shown an'ordinary I-be'aln A, having top and bottomflanges a. a of the ordinary form and used as a supporting-beam for afloor and ceiling composed of fireproof blocks arranged in the usualmanner in relation to such beam. The blocks 13 B are shown arranged inone way, and the blocks B are shown arranged in another way, both ofwhich are in common use. These blocks, regardless of their arrangement,have rabbeis b b" cut in their lower corners, forming reentering angles,one of the faces being adapted to rest upon the flange'a/ and the otherextending below it, so that the arrangement of blocks forms an openplace or channel in the ceiling, which is wider than the bot tom of thebeam and which must be treated in such away that the lower face of thebeam will be protected from the action of heat. I have shown in Fig. 14one means by which this result is obtained. It consists of a foramino'ussheet of metalformi'ng a shield and shaped as shown in Fig. 14. Thelower face of the flange of the beam when the shield is in position,resting against both the top and the outside of the edgesof the flangeof the beam. It is obvious that the distance between the oppositeshoulders c must be the same as the width of the flange of the beamwhich it covers. It is also obvious that the distance from the edge ofthe lip c to the tion of placing it.

farthest opposite inside corner of the shield must be greater than thewidth of the flange of the beam and that otherwise the depth of theshield, the width of the shield, and the width of the lips c 0 may varyto suit the convenience of the construction, while the shield may alsobe of any convenient length.

Before the blocks B B of terra-cotta are put in place on the beam, as inFig. 1, the shield O is put in place on the lower flange a of the beamA. By tipping the shield, so that oneflange ofthe beam enters thechannel at first, it can be adjusted to its exact position withoutbending any part of it or changing its form whatsoever in the opera-When it is properly adjusted, it is obvious that the lips no not onlysupport it on the flange of the beam, but the shoulders c 0 also preventit from moving sidewise. It is also obvious that when the blocks B B ofterra-cotta are put in place they lock the shield C firmly in position.The sides of the shield at c are preferably made so that the lower faceof the shield 0 shall be substantially in the plane of the lower face ofthe blocks 13 B although if the shield should not quite come out to thelower surface of the blocks it would not be material. After'theassemblage of the beam, the shield, and blocks is completed the undersurface may be covered in the usual manner by a layer of plaster, (shownat D,) which .layer is held to the shield O by means of perforations,enabling it to clench and form a continuous uniform ceiling. It isobvious that the lower flange of the beam is protected by the shield andthe plaster attached to it, over which is an air-space between it andthe beam, and, further, that even if cracksoccur--say along the line ofthe junction of the shield and the blocks--the plaster clenched to theshield could not readily be removed, and thus the integrity of theprotection would not be impaired. The depth of the .shield may, however,be made less than the depth of the groove, of which the beam is the top,and before the finishing coat of plaster is put on the space thus leftcould be filled withvanyplastic materialfiush with the plane of thelower portion of the blocks, and this plasticmaterial, adhering to theshield, as hereinbefore described, would form a surface similar incharacter to that of the bottom of the blocks B and B upon which theregular plaster can be placed. It is also obvious that this shield mightbe made of woven wire or of anflun perforated plate of metal havingcorrugations on its undersurface to which plaster can adhere or, indeed,of any other material having a surface to which plaster can adherefirmly. It is obvious that its essential features consist, first, in itsform by which it can be placed upon the flange of the beam withouthaving to be bent or manipulated at the time and by the workmen who putit in place; second, in its form by which when it is put in place it issupported by the flange a of the beam without the employment of anyother fastening members, such as nails or books or wires or clips orother agents; third, in its form by which it cannot move upon the flangeeither to one side or to the other when it is once put in place, for itis obvious that if the distance between the shoulders c c is exactly thesame as the width of the flange it cannot possibly be moved without itis first lifted, and, fourth, in its being so fashioned that the blocksB and B lock it in place, so that it cannot be lifted and moved, even soperfectly secured that if the filling material in the floors were badlybroken in a fire it would be impossible to move the shield from itsfixed position until blocks B B were completely removed.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the shield constructed in a difierent manner,buthaving the same essential features, operated upon substantiallythesame principles, and to be used under the same conditions. The bottompart of this shield consists of a slab of incombustible material carriedby inflexible metal bands 6 e ,which may be embedded in said slab, asshown in Fig. 4, or which may be rigidly combined with it by clasping iton the outside, as shown in Fig. 12..

as to form lips in exactly the same way as the lips c c of theforaminous shield O of Fig. 14 are formed, the bands being inflexibleand In either case the esseu- .tial principle remains thesam e. i Theends of rigid in their connection to theslab of incombustible material.It is also obvious that this modified form of the shield must be put inplace in the same way as the shield 0 shown in Fig. 1 and hereiubeforedescribed.

Figs. 3, 4, 5, .6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 show another modification of myinvention in combination with a floor construction, in all of which theceiling-line is raised above the bottom of the beams. Figs. 11, 12,.and22 show the same shields separately, partly in section and partly inperspective. The essential features of the shield in all of thesefigures are the same as those of the shield shown in Fig. 14; but theconstruction is modified slightly to meet the changed conditions. Thesemodifications are as follows: 1

In Fig. 11 I have shown a shield consisting of a foraminous metal plateturned up at the sidesat right angles to the bottom of the shield, thelip also being turned inward at right angles to the sides and parallelwith the bottom and the edges at ff turned in upon itself with itsextreme edges bent slightly downward at l f with the bottom) afiords asquare seat for the filling material required on each side of the beamto cover the beam between the shield and the ceiling-line. The surfaceof the lip between fand f is fashioned so as to bear directly on theflange of the beam both on top and on the outside edges. It is obviousthat the extreme edgesff, bent down, form the shoulder of the shield andthat the distance between f and f must be equal to the width of theflange which the shield is intended to cover. It is also obvious thatwhen the shield is used as shown in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 it can be placedin position without having to be bent or manipulated at the time by theworkmen who put it in place, that it will also be supported by theflange a of the beam without the employment of any other fasteningmembers, and that it also cannot move upon the flange either to one sideor to the other when it is once put in place. In Fig. 6 it is alsoobvious that when the fireproof blocks B B are put in place thechanneled shield F is locked in position. Also in Figs. 7 and 8 it isobvious that when the blocks marked f,f and f are put in their placetheshield F will be likewise locked securely in place and that it will beimpossible to move the shield in itsplace on the beamor take it off fromthe beam without first removing the-fireproof blocks be-1 tween it and'the'ceiling-line.

Fig. 12 is a modification ofthe shield shown in Fig. 11. consists of achanneled slab of incombustible material combined with metal bands-e,which are turned back upon themselves and down- .actly the same.

ward to fit the top and outside edges of the bottom'flangeof the beam,exactly the same as do the edges of the shield shown in Fig. 11. It isobvious that the metal bands must be inflexible and that theymust berigidly connected to the channel-slab of incombustible material, eitherby being embedded or by clasping around the channel-slab, as shown inFig. 12. I It is also obvious that it may be used the same as the shieldshown in Fig. 11 and that all of its essential features are ex- It isshown in combination with the beam in Fig. 10 and in a somewhatvariedform, in Fig. 5. v

In Fig. 22 I have shown a form of shield made of foraminous metal, withthe shoul ders f ftformed in exactly the same way as they are formed inthe shield shown in Fig.

14. It difiers only from that shown in Fig. 14 in having the sides atright angles to the bottom of the shield. It is shown in combinationwith the beam and the fireproof blocks in Fig. 3. It is obvious thatthis variation also has the same essential features as those describedfor the shield shown in Fig. 14 and that it must be used in exactly thesame way as those shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 4 shows a variation of the shield in combination with the beam andfireproof blocks similar to that shown in Fig. 2, but modified so as toconform 'to the conditions of that shown in Fig.

In Fig. 8 the members of filling material protecting the web of the beambetween the shield and the ceiling-line are shown in two alternativeforms, one made of foraminous metal and the other of hollowincombustible material, commonly burnt-clay material. In Fig. 7 thesimilar block f is shown solid. It

The shield shown in this figure is obvious that it is immaterial to myinvention whether these blocks are hollow or solid or whether they aremade of one material or another. It is also obvious that the exact widthof the shield and its exact depth below the bottom of the flahge of thebeam are immaterial to myinvention. It is also obvious that the shieldmay be made not only of f0- raminous metal, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12,or of a channel-slab rigidly combined with inflexible bars, as shown inFig. 12, but that it may be made of any other material having sufficientstrength for the purpose and a surface to which plaster will adhere, asshown in Figs. 7,-8, 9, and 10. It is also obvious that the essentialfeature of the shield, which makes the placing of it upon the beamwithout any change of form a possibility, makes it neces-- sary that thebottom and sides of the flange of the beam must always be surrounded byan air-space, which will serve to protect the beam from the effects of afire. It is also obvious that the character of the filling material usedbetween the beams forthe construction of the floor and the ceilingis'immaterial to my invention and that, while the figures showingcombinations are drawn with blocks of material in the form of arches,&c. my invention is equally applicable to constructions in which thefloors and ceilings are made of other material.

the protection of the beam where it is entirelyseparate from any flooror partition. Preliminarily, however, I will describe a block made ofincombustible materials, asshownin perspective in Fig. 13. It will benoted that it has the outline, so far as the inturned lips areconcerned, shownin Fig. 11,.and that like the shield shown in Fig. 11 itcan be attached to the bottom flanges of a beam, as shown in Fig. 17. Insuch position the undercut re cesses j j fit the edges of the flange, asshown in section in Fig. 17, thereby preventing lat eral displacement,and when the blocks K K, also made of incombustible material, are put inposition, as shown, the slabs J are held in place on the flanges of thebeam and cannot be displaced. V

In Fig. 16 I havesubstituted for the blocks J the form ofprotecting-shield or block shown.

in Fig. 12, the blocksK K remaining the same. In Fig. 15 I have shown ablock K upon one side ofthe Weband a fo raminous metal shield L upon theopposite side for the purpose of the top and bottom flanges are attachedfo-,

raminous shields F F, as shown in Fig. 11. It is obvious that theforaminous shield L is the exact equivalent of the block K and that theyare interchangeable in the sense that either may be used, if desired,and it is also obvious that the shield, as shown in Fig. 12,

ii iai may be also used interchangeably with the shield shown in I ig,11. In all of these cases, as shown by Figs. 15, 16, and 17, the spacesS S around the blocks L and K are filled with mortar (not shown) whenthe blocks are put in place.

In Fig. 18 upon the bottom flange of the beam A, I attach a foraminousshield constructed like that of Fig..11. Upon the top flange I haveshown metal bars M, with upturned and inturned edges m m and with clipsm m, punched out of its surface and extending far enough to grasp theedges of the top flange of the beam. Over this I place a foraminousmetal casing N, the lower edge of which is adapted to grasp the lowerforaminous shield already described and hold it in place bythe inturnedclips 01' or, cut outcof its edges 71 H The bars M may be anydesi'redwidth and must be spaced at convenient and suitable intervals. Thisstructure may also be covered by plastering, and so protect the inclosedbeam.

r In Fig. 19 I have shown another modification, in which I employ theshields F F for the upper'and lower flanges like thatof Fig. ll and thenplace on each side foraminous plates Q, with clips q q-pressed out oftheir surfaces and at right angles thereto and extending inwardly atproper distances apart, so as to support and retain theshields-F F inplace on the flanges.

It is obvious that very many forms of my invention might be employed.

It will be observed that the constructions above described havesupporting edges or portions which are fixed relative to the body of theshield and which rest on the outeredge portions of the flange, asdistinguished from structures wherein clips, nails, or other separatesecuring means are employed and also from forms wherein the edges arebent down to clasp the flange after the shield is adjusted.

" neled side greater than that of the flange of.

- What I claim is-- p 1. As a new article of manufacture, a channeledshield for the protection of flanges of beams from fire, having a widthon the chanthe beam which it is designed to cover, and

having edges turned inward, on both sides alike and carrying lugs orshoulders projecting internally therefrom and near the edges, the twolugs or shoulders being separated by a distance equal to the width ofthe flange of the beam, substantially as described.

r 2. The combination of a channeled shield for the protection of theflanges of beams, so

shaped that it can be hooked over the flange and put in place withoutits form being changed in the operation, the beam to which the same isattached, and filling material adjacen't thereto arranged to securelylock the shield in place without requiring the employment of otherfastening elements, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a metal beam; filling material adjacent thereto;and a channeled ing, protecting material under the ceiling and Iadjacent to the web of the beam, and a channeled shield, fashionedbefore use to an exact and unchangeable form and adapted to engage andcover the bottom flange of a beam,

inolosing an open air-space on both edges and under-the flange, andlocked fast in place by the protecting material adjacent to the web ofthe beam without other fastening elements; substantially as described.

5. The combinationof a metal beam, protectingmaterial on each side oftheweb thereof, and two channeled shields, each of which is fashionedbefore use to an exact and unchangeable form, each engaging and coveringa flange of the beam inolosing open airspaces on both edges and outsideof the flanges ofthe beam, and locked fast in place by the protectingmaterial adjacentto each side of the web of the beam, substantially asdescribed.

6. A new articleof manufacture consist-ing of the combination of a pieceof incom'bustible material properly shaped, and inflexible angular metalparts fixed thereto, the whole shaped to an exact form before use, andadapted to protect ironwork in buildings from fire, substantially asdescribed.

7. The combination with a flanged metal supporting member, of aprotecting-shield therefor located relative to the flange to form anintervening air-space and having relatively-fixed securing andsupportingedges bent inward, and arranged'to rest on the outer edges of theflange.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a chanlIO neled shield for theprotection of flanges of beams from fire, embracing the flange of thebeam which it is designed to cover, and having edges turned inward, onboth sides and carrying abutting lugs or shoulders projecting internallytherefrom, substantiallyas described.

9. The combination with a flanged supporting member, of aprotecting-shield therefor, having sides with in turned securingportions, overhanging the edges of the flange the distance between thesecuring portion on oneside and the diagonal opposite point of theinterior of the shield being greater than the width of theflange,substantially as described.

10. Asa new article of manufacture, achanneled shield for the protectionof flanges of beams from fire, having a width 'on the channeled sidegreater than that of the flange of the beam which it is designed tocover, and having edges turned inward, on both sides alike, and carryingshoulders, near the edges, the said shoulders being separated by adistance equal to the width of the flange of the tance equal to thewidth of the'flange of the beam, substantially as described. beam,substantially as described. 10

11. Asanew article of manufacture, achan- In testimony whereof I signthis specificaneled shield for the protection of the flanges tion in thepresence of two witnesses. 5 of beams from fire constructed with edgesCORYDON T. PURDY.

turned inward to embrace the flange of the Witnesses:

beam which it is designed to cover, and hav R. A. PARKER,

ing abutting shoulders separated by a dis- MARION A. REEVE.

